New Lakers big man Channing Frye calls Lonzo Ball's game 'quirky'

Channing Frye will miss the heat of NBA championship contention now that he’s no longer with the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the newly minted Los Angeles Lakers big man sees even bigger things coming for the team’s unique young core, led by Lonzo Ball.

“You got four guys, maybe five, that can pass, shoot, dribble, bring the ball up, screen and roll, finish around the rim, post up,” Frye said after his first Lakers practice. “And each one of them has their own individual pace, which is hard to find in the league. A lot of guys are sort of robotic, but you look at, Lonzo has his own kind of quirky game.”

Frye went on to lavish similar praise on fellow rookies Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart, as well as Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle.

Zo’s game certainly fits Frye’s description. Between his unorthodox jump shot and atypical rhythm, with and without the ball in his hands, the Crown Prince of Chino Hills has a way of getting where he wants on the court without having to hump up his speed and athleticism to the hilt.

Frye has yet to see that up close as Zo’s teammate, but may get a chance to do so if the youngster practices full-bore with the team on Tuesday ahead of a back-to-back before the All-Star break.